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McLaren holds another team meeting

McLaren holds another team meeting

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By Todd Wills
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Special to MLB.com |

ARLINGTON -- The Mariners had their second team meeting in three days before Monday's series opener against the Rangers as they try to break out of a slump that has seen Seattle lose 10 of its last 12 games.

Manager John McLaren said the meeting was split into two parts, with half of the conversation between the coaching staff and the players and the rest a players-only meeting. The Mariners also had a players-only meeting Saturday.

"It was communication," McLaren said. "The players talking to the staff and the staff talking to the players."

McLaren told the media before Sunday's victory over the Chicago White Sox, "There's some tension in the clubhouse."

"Let's be honest, when you've won 10 in a row, you can't wait to get to the ballpark," McLaren said. "When you're going through a period like we're going through, it's not a fun place to show up."

The Mariners went into Monday's game losing five of their last six games and 14 of their last 20. They were 6-12 on the road.

The Mariners have played well within the American League West, taking a 9-6 record against division foes into Monday.

McLaren did say that the organization's catching coordinator, Roger Hansen, will be in Texas on Tuesday. His visit is a long scheduled trip to work with catchers Kenji Johjima, Jeff Clement and Jamie Burke.

Hansen's trip does come two days after starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn told the Seattle Times that there are times he and Johjima are not on the same page.

"Our job as a staff is to get everybody on the same page," McLaren said. "We've had some frustration as a team. We've settled down and we're ready to play some good baseball."

Todd Wills is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.